Lost in Starlight: Anime movie analysis
A few days ago, I stumbled upon an anime movie called Lost in Starlight. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much at first but it was surprisingly amazing. When I watched it I noticed the character designs are a little different than the ones we see in Japanese anime series. Turns out it’s the first Korean anime movie ever created and it did not disappoint.
The Visuals
It was also the first Korean anime I’ve ever watched, and it did not disappoint. To me, they looked like Koreans too, lol! The setting was very modern and futuristic, highlighting technologies we still don’t have yet. It made the world feel both imaginative and believable.
The Music
I’ve always believed a great soundtrack can elevate a movie and this one did exactly that. The music in Lost in Starlight was soft, emotional, and sometimes haunting in the most beautiful way. It perfectly matched the mood of each scene, making the emotional moments hit even harder.
I especially loved the final song that Jay performed on stage. Even though he was anxious and worried about Joo Nan-Young, he still gave his best performance. He remembered her encouraging words and conquered his fears. That scene truly touched me.
The Story
On the surface, it might seem like a typical space adventure. However at its heart, Lost in Starlight is a story about loneliness, love, and the search for one’s place in the universe. The characters’ struggles felt raw and surprisingly relatable.
The story follows a young astronaut named Joo Nan-Young and a humble shop worker named Jay. Their paths cross by complete accident, but it feels like fate. Jay, a talented guitarist and singer, hides his gift out of fear, while Nan-Young carries the weight of the stars on her shoulders. Watching their bond grow felt tender, genuine, and meaningful.
We get a glimpse of Joo Nan-Young and her childhood memories, especially the memories that revolved about her mother. We don’t get any explanation about what exactly happened to her mother, but from the event it shows that she went to space and got lost and never returned. This might be the reason that made Joo Nan-Young want to be an astronaut in the first place. Maybe to find answers? Or to complete her mother’s mission successfully.
There’s an event near the end that was breathtaking. I was so worried when Joo Nan-Young was lost in space. But don’t worry, the ending was perfect and no, it’s not a sad ending!
The Pacing
If I’m being honest, the movie’s pacing slowed down a little in the middle. But rather than feeling like a flaw, it gave the story room to breathe and allowed me to connect more intimately with the characters. Sometimes, slowing down makes the story’s emotional moments hit even harder and that’s exactly what happened here.
One of my favorite moments was when Jay and Nan-Young bonded over their hidden talents and shared passions. Watching them laugh, talk, and discover each other’s worlds was heartwarming.
Lately, I’ve started appreciating slow-paced anime. I love watching characters do simple things or just sit in comfortable silence. It reminds me of Studio Ghibli movies, where even the quiet moments feel meaningful.
A little more about the characters
Nan Young:
She is an astronaut who followed the steps of her mother who went on an expedition to Mars when Nan Young was a child.
The mother (Son Ji-Young):
An astronaut who went to Mars and passed away during the trip.
The father:
He is a Mars geek, he dedicates most of his energy to establish a connection to Mars after he lost his life over 20 years ago.
Jay:
A simple man who works in an electronic repair shop, who also happens to be a good singer and a guitarist. When Jay was asked how he got into music. He mentioned that he was mostly raised by his grandfather in the countryside. His grandpa used to take him to public baths and scrub him clean with his rough hands. Whenever Jay got upset and cried in the bathhouse, grandpa would teach him how to sing to quiet him down. He knows that he can sing but he doubts himself and is not happy with the band’s decisions.
It seems that each character has a deep scar of life events that they went through and can’t overcome them or process their emotions healthily.
Final Thoughts
I would recommend Lost in Starlight to anyone who loves anime movies that have meaningful character development, a love story and an adventure.
If you enjoy movies that lean more into emotion and atmosphere rather than fast-paced action, this one is for you. If I had to give it a rating I’d give it 5 stars. Simply because I felt like there wasn’t a moment that I felt bored or I wanted it to end. Everything was beautiful, nothing was repulsive or strange, just a wholesome movie. And if you do watch it, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Have you seen Lost in Starlight? What did you think of it? Let’s chat in the comments!